Saint John's (6-5, 1-4 MIAC) hosts Bethel (7-3-2, 2-3-0 MIAC) for the first of three consecutive home conference matches this Wednesday, Oct. 12. The game is scheduled for 4 p.m. at George Durenberger Field in Collegeville.
Preview Video:
-Head coach John Haws (0:39)
A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: Saint John's erased a two-goal halftime to defeat Wartburg (Iowa) this past Sunday in Waverly, Iowa. SJU got on the scoreboard with an own-goal seven minutes into the second half. Freshman Zane Heinselman (River Falls, Wis.) tied the match with his fourth goal of the season 1:20 later. Sophomore Matt Carson (Waconia, Minn.) recorded his second consecutive game-winning goal with 4:05 remaining in regulation. Sophomore Michael Coborn (St. Cloud, Minn./Cathedral) fed Carson on the give-and-go, who kicked a shot to the top right corner of the net. Senior Mike Sikich (Apple Valley, Minn.) made nine saves in goal to improve his record to 3-0 on the season.
A LOOK AT THE ROYALS: Bethel was shutout in each of its past two games, both to conference opponents. BU dropped a 5-0 decision to Macalester Oct. 4 and then lost to nationally-ranked Gustavus Oct. 8. Bethel's two conference wins came against Hamline and Saint Mary's, both by 1-0 scores; two teams SJU has not faced yet. The Royals boast a 7-3-2 record despite being outscored 18-16 so far this season and bring a perfect 5-0 road record to Collegeville Wednesday. Junior David Kim leads the team in scoring with 16 points (8g/0a), while goalkeepers Chris Scott and Leif Sundberg have a combined save percentage of .800 and a 1.63 GAA. Sundberg has 47 saves in 692 minutes, while Scott has 21 saves in 246 minutes in net.
THE LAST MEETING: Saint John's traveled to Bethel and defeated the Royals 1-0 in overtime thanks to a goal from Colin Hall '11 2:48 into the extra frame last fall. Sophomore Joe Balder (Stillwater, Minn.) played the ball behind the Royal's defense to Coborn, who passed to a wide-open Hall.
SERIES HISTORY: The Johnnies are 23-5-2 against Bethel since 1982, including a 12-2-1 record in Collegeville.
TOUGH SCHEDULE: SJU is currently 6-5 against schools that, as of Oct. 10, have a combined record of 86-39-10 (.674), including a 19-5-3 record in the MIAC. None of them have a losing record.
